'For 20 guys on one side, they'll remember it as the game that sent them one step closer to the Stanley Cup. For the other 20, it will be the game that saw a promising playoff run come to an end. It's beautiful, it's cruel, it's game seven. And there's nothing like it.'

All the eyes of the hockey world will be riveted to the drama ready to unfold in Western New York. As the third and final Game 7 of the Conference Semifinals, the deciding game of the Penguins-Sabres series is chock-full of intrigue and anxiety for each squad.

This Sabres team will tell us a lot about itself tonight. Are they a team that will be able to look past this setup with a quiet confidence and come out and win at home? Are they a team that is like that girl or guy who builds you up, makes you feel close to them and then leaves you feeling empty?

'Forget about Game Six. If the Sabres lose this series, it won't be because a puck took a weird bounce in Game Six. It'll be because they couldn't measure up to the game's ultimate test – a Game Seven. If they're a real Stanley Cup contender, they'll win tonight.'

'Buffalo doesn't have a forward like Lemieux or Jagr — although Stu Barnes and Donald Audette and Miroslav Satan, among others, are some big-time talents — but does have a goaltender fully capable of winning Game 7 almost single-handedly.'

'Now, each man has a record of 3-3 in the series. Hedberg has allowed 15 goals, Hasek 13. Hedberg has stopped 90.2 percent of the shots he has faced, Hasek 90.9 percent. Each goaltender has held the other team to two goals or less three times and, in doing so, won the game each time.'